Public Transit in the GTA, Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow

Guelph Transit revises routes and services, February 3

In a major setback for both transit riders and transit staff, Guelph Transit is decreasing rush-hour service along all routes to just every 20 minutes, instead of every 15 minutes, starting Monday, February 4. Buses continue to operate every 30 minutes at all other times of the week.

Although it launched a completely new route network just slightly more than a year ago, New Year’s Day, Sunday, January 1, 2012, and introduced 15-minute rush-hour service, the new route structure and schedules have dissatisfied many riders. Passengers have complained about frequently missing connections at terminals and intersections because schedules didn’t leave enough time for drivers to complete round trips along the routes in the event of a collision, construction or other event that may have delayed or disrupted service.

Tomorrow, Sunday, February 3, Guelph Transit is also revising ten routes to shorten trips and help drivers keep on schedule. Since buses operating along the current 9 West End Community Centre route will no longer stop at the community centre, it’s also renaming it as the 9 Waterloo route.

One ray of sunshine appears in this batch of rough weather for transit riders: passengers who usually travel along the 20 Northwest Industrial route will finally receive full, regular service along the route, instead of the limited service that GT has been providing since last year.

Following the recommendations of an external transportation consultant, Guelph Transit launched its new route structure and improved rush-hour service to every 15 minutes along regular routes, with great fanfare, last year. But, while it increased the frequency of rush-hour service it also decreased frequency Mondays to Fridays midday — from about 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. At all other times of the week, Guelph Transit offered the same level of service as it did before the change — every 30 minutes.

With the new schedules that Guelph Transit adopted last year, it also increased service along the key Norfolk Street / Gordon Street north-south corridor, with buses operating along the two streets between Macdonell Street and the University of Guelph every 7 to 8 minutes during rush hours and every 15 minutes at all other times of the week.

Although most buses continued to start and end their trips in downtown Guelph, the consultants also recommended establishing another network focal point at the University Centre Terminal on the University of Guelph campus. Many buses that start and end their trips at the university don’t operate to and from downtown Guelph.

Buses operating along two circular perimeter routes connect the outer edges of the city with both downtown Guelph and the university and supply the frequent service along Gordon and Norfolk Streets.

The study recommended decreasing service in two industrial areas where passengers ride buses mainly to and from work when the shifts change in factories. Buses operated along the industrial routes seven days a week, but only at certain times of the day.

Since New Year’s 2012, Guelph Transit has responded to rider and driver concerns by making a number of changes to the consultant’s original plan:

It has:

shortened the two perimeter routes to help drivers keep on schedule;

introduced another regular route to serve the area near the University of Guelph campus, the 15 University / College route;

opened a new downtown transit terminal at Guelph Central GO Station, removing most transit service from the area around the old terminal at St. George’s Square;

extended the 5 Gordon route so that buses start and end their trips in downtown Guelph, instead of at the University Centre Terminal, further bolstering service along the busy Gordon Street corridor;

converted the limited, industrial service to the Hanlon Business Park in the south end of the city to regular service, seven days a week, introducing the new 16 Southgate route connecting south Guelph to downtown. Buses add even more service along Gordon Street and skip the University Centre Terminal; and

revised some service to St. George’s Square after business owners complained about less business because fewer people were shopping while waiting for their buses at the Square.

Introducing a new route

9 Waterloo

Starting Sunday, February 3, Guelph Transit introduces this new route to replace the current service along the 9West End Community Centre route.

Inbound buses operate along the current 9 West End Community Centre route to Imperial Road South and Paisley Road, then proceed:

westward along Paisley to Elmira Road South,
ending their trips.

Outbound buses start their trips on Paisley Road east of Elmira Road South, then proceed:

southward along Elmira South;
eastward along Stephanie Drive; and then
southward along Imperial Road South to West Acres Drive,
resuming the current 9 West End Community Centre route southward along Imperial South.

Inbound buses skip their current stop

at West End Recreation Centre.

Outbound buses skip their current stops

on Elmira Road South south of Freshmeadow Way [north] and across from Rochelle Drive and

on West Acres Drive across from Northwood Crescent [east] and at Imperial Road South.

Canceling a route

9 West End Community Centre

Saturday, February 2 is the last day that Guelph Transit operates buses along the route.

Starting Sunday, February 3, buses operating along the new 9Waterloo route replace the current service along the 9 West End Community Centre route. GT is also decreasing the frequency of service along the route.

Increasing service along a route

20 Northwest Industrial

Starting Sunday, February 3, the route becomes a regular, full-service route. Buses drop off or pick up passengers at stops along the route seven days a week - every 20 minutes Mondays to Fridays during rush hours and every 30 minutes at all other times of the week.

Decreasing the frequency of service along routes

Starting Monday, February 4, buses drop off or pick up passengers at stops along the route every 20 minutes, instead of every15 minutes, Mondays to Fridays during rush hours. Buses continue to serve stops every 30 minutes at all other times of the week.

3A East Loop clockwise3B East Loop clockwise

Starting Monday, February 4, buses drop off or pick up passengers at stops along the route every 20 minutes, instead of every15 minutes, Mondays to Fridays during rush hours. Buses continue to serve stops every 30 minutes at all other times of the week.

58 Edinburgh express

Starting Monday, January 7, buses drop off or pick up passengers at stops along the route every 20 minutes, instead of every 15 minutes, Mondays to Fridays from about 8 a.m. until 9:30 p.m.

12 General Hospital

Starting Monday, February 4, buses drop off or pick up passengers at stops along the route every 20 minutes, instead of every15 minutes, Mondays to Fridays during rush hours. Buses continue to serve stops every 30 minutes at all other times of the week.

14 Grange

Starting Monday, February 4, buses drop off or pick up passengers at stops along the route every 20 minutes, instead of every15 minutes, Mondays to Fridays during rush hours. Buses continue to serve stops every 30 minutes at all other times of the week.

5 Gordon

Starting Monday, February 4, buses drop off or pick up passengers at stops along the route every 20 minutes, instead of every15 minutes, Mondays to Fridays during rush hours. Buses continue to serve stops every 30 minutes at all other times of the week.

57 Harvard express

Starting Monday, January 7, buses drop off or pick up passengers at stops along the route every 20 minutes, instead of every 15 minutes, Mondays to Fridays from about 8 a.m. until 9:30 p.m.

6 Harvard / Ironwood

Starting Monday, February 4, buses drop off or pick up passengers at stops along the route every 20 minutes, instead of every15 minutes, Mondays to Fridays during rush hours. Buses continue to serve stops every 30 minutes at all other times of the week.

10 Imperial

Starting Monday, February 4, buses drop off or pick up passengers at stops along the route every 20 minutes, instead of every15 minutes, Mondays to Fridays during rush hours. Buses continue to serve stops every 30 minutes at all other times of the week.

7 Kortright / Downey

Starting Monday, February 4, buses drop off or pick up passengers at stops along the route every 20 minutes, instead of every15 minutes, Mondays to Fridays during rush hours. Buses continue to serve stops every 30 minutes at all other times of the week.

16 Southgate

Starting Monday, February 4, buses drop off or pick up passengers at stops along the route every 20 minutes, instead of every15 minutes, Mondays to Fridays during rush hours. Buses continue to serve stops every 30 minutes at all other times of the week.

50 Stone Road express

Starting Monday, January 7, buses drop off or pick up passengers at stops along the route every 20 minutes, instead of every 15 minutes, Mondays to Fridays from about 8 a.m. until 9:30 p.m.

8 Stone Road Mall15 University / College

Starting Monday, February 4, buses drop off or pick up passengers at stops along the routes every 20 minutes, instead of every15 minutes, Mondays to Fridays during rush hours. Buses continue to serve stops every 30 minutes at all other times of the week.

56 Victoria express

Starting Monday, January 7, buses drop off or pick up passengers at stops along the route every 20 minutes, instead of every 15 minutes, Mondays to Fridays from about 8 a.m. until 4 p.m.

13 Victoria Road Recreation Centre

Starting Monday, February 4, buses drop off or pick up passengers at stops along the route every 20 minutes, instead of every15 minutes, Mondays to Fridays during rush hours. Buses continue to serve stops every 30 minutes at all other times of the week.

9 Waterloo

Starting Sunday, February 3, Guelph Transit replaces the current service along the 9West End Community Centre route with service along this new route.

Starting Monday, February 4, buses drop off or pick up passengers at stops along the route every 20 minutes, instead of every15 minutes, Mondays to Fridays during rush hours. Buses continue to serve stops every 30 minutes at all other times of the week.

2A West Loop clockwise2B West Loop clockwise

Starting Monday, February 4, buses drop off or pick up passengers at stops along the route every 20 minutes, instead of every15 minutes, Mondays to Fridays during rush hours. Buses continue to serve stops every 30 minutes at all other times of the week.

11 Willow West4 York

Starting Monday, February 4, buses drop off or pick up passengers at stops along the routes every 20 minutes, instead of every15 minutes, Mondays to Fridays during rush hours. Buses continue to serve stops every 30 minutes at all other times of the week.

Revising routes

3A East Loop clockwise3b East Loop clockwise

Saturday, February 2 is the last day that buses drop off or pick up passengers in the Guelph Smart Centre (Walmart) property. Instead, buses remain on Woodlawn Road West.

12 General Hospital

Outbound buses operate along their regular route to Speedvale Avenue East and Victoria Road North, then proceed:

northward along Victoria North; and then
westward along Woodlawn Road East to a stop just west of Victoria North,
ending their trips.

Outbound buses no longer operate along Speedvale East between Victoria North and Delaware Avenue, Delaware between Speedvale East and Brant Avenue, Brant between Delaware and Montana Road, Montana between Brant and Woodlawn East and Woodlawn East between Montana and Victoria North.

The buses skip their former stops

on Delaware Avenue north of Speedvale Avenue East and north of Mohawk Drive [north] and

on Montana Road at Algoma Drive

Instead, outbound buses drop off or pick up passengers at stops

on Victoria Road North north of Speedvale Avenue East and at Brant Avenue.

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